University of South Carolina Libraries
,..7 COPYRIC#IiT 1934- 4w SYNOPSIS. A curious crowd of neighbors invad the mysterious home of Judge Ostrander county judge and eccentric recluse, fo1 lowing. a veiled woman who proves to bo the widow of a man tried before the Judg4 and eledtrocuted for murder years before Her daughter is engaged to the Judge's son, from whom he is estranged, but thi murder is between the lovers. She plans to cleat her husband's memory and asks the judge's aid. Deborah Scoville reads the newspaper clippings telling the stor3 of the murder of Algernon Etheridge b) John Scoville in Dark Hollow, twelve years before. The judge and Mrs. Sco Ville meet at Spencer's Folly and sh< shows him how, on the day of the mur der, she saw the shadow of a man, whit tling a stick and wearing a long peakei cap. The judge engages her and hei daughter Reuther to five with him in his mysterious home. Deborah and her law yer, Black, go to the police station anc see the stick used to murder Etheridge She discovers a broken knife-blade poin1 embedded in it. Deborah and Reuther g( to live with the judge. Deborah sees i portfait of Oliver, the Judge's son, with c Clack band painted across the eyes. Thai night she finds, in Oliver's room, a cal with a peak like the shadowed one anc a knife with a broken blade-point. Anon ymous letters and a talk with MIs! Weeks increase her suspicions and fears She finds that Oliver was in the ravin on the murder night. Black warns hei and shows her other anonymous letter! hinting at Oliver's guilt. In the cour room the judge is handed an anonymoui note. The note is picked up and rear aloud. A mob follows the judge to he honie. Deborah tells him why suspieior has been aroused against Oliver. - Tha Judge shows Deborah a statement writtet by Oliver years ago telling how he say her husband murder Spencer at Spen buceFolly 6n the night the house wa CHAPTER Xill-ContInued. Claymore tavern did change own era. When I heard that a man by th name of Scoville had bought it, I won over to see Scoville. He was the man Then I began to ask myself what ought to do with my knowledge, ani the more I asked myself this questiot and the more I brooded over the mat ter the less did I feel like taking, no the public, but my father, into my con fidence. I had never doubted his love for me but ,I had always stood in great awe o his reproof, and I did not know when I was to find courage to tell him all th< details of this adventure. There Is one thing I did do, however I made certain inquiries here . an there, and sooi satisfied myself as t how Scovigp had been able to com into town, commit this horrid deed an escape without any one but myself be ing the wiser. Spencer and he hai come from the West en route to New York without any intention of stolp ping off in Shelby. But once involve( in play they had got so interestet that when within a. few miles of th town, Spencer proposed that the3 should leave the train and finish the game in his own house. Whether cir cumstances aided them, or Spencel took some extraordinary precautioni against being recognized, will neve1 be known. But "certain it is that he escaped all observation at the statior and- even upont the road. When Sco ville returned alone, the storm haL rna~ched such a height that the roadt were deserted, and he, being an entirE stranger here at that time, naturallj attracted no attention, and so was abl< fo sllp awvay on the~ next train tvith just the drawback of buying a new~ ticket. I, a boy of fifteent, trespassing where I did not belot,. was the only living witness of what had hiappened on this night of dreadful storm, in thc house which was now a ruin. Ir realized the unpleasantness of the position in which this put me, bul not its responsibility. If I were going to do anything I should have done it al first-so I reasoned, and let the mat. ter slide. I became interested in school and study, and the years passed and I had almost forgotten the oc (.'wrence, when suddenly the full re. membrance canme back upon me with a rush. A aaan-my father's .friend was found murdered in sight of this spot of old-time horror, and Scoville was accused of the act. I was older now andi saw my fault in all its enormit y. I was guilty oi that crime-or so I felt in the first heat of piy sorrowv and despair. I may even have said so-in dreams or in some of my self-absorbed broodings Though I certainly had not lifted the stick against Mr. Etheridge, I had left thte hand free which did, and this was a sufficient occasion for remorse-ol ap I truly felt. I was-so affected by the thought that even my father, withI his own weight of troubles, noticed my careworr face and asked me for an explanation But I held him off until the verdict was reached, and then I told hlim. had not liked his looks for -some time; they seemed to. convey some doubt 01 the Justice of thtis man's sentence, anc GetProsperous Gratwealth has comec to Ilrmh and everybody is spending it like wa ente. .An instance of the way in whi spent is aftorded by the fur trade, days f4hte getting in a big stock of va eviilence is supplied by the fashionab) coats. 'whiniddle-cinss wornen Are ihn#N&i .lhIttlg ;factories before . neW *il the very rich, and their w. 1010w2 C ) hods DODMp coMpay I felt that if he had such doubts, they might be eased' by this certainty of Scoville's murderous tendencies and unquestionable greed. And they were; but as Scoville was already doomed, we decided that it was unnecessary to make public his past offenses. However, with an eye upon future contingencies, my father exacted from me in writing this full account of my'adventure, which with all the solemnity of an oath I here de clare to be the true story of what be fell me in the house called Spencer's Folly, on the night of awful storm, September 11, 1895. OLIVER OSTRANDER. Witnesses to above signature, ARCHIBALD OSTRANDER. BELA JEFFERSON. Shelby, November 7, 1898. CHAPTER XIV. The Telegram. This was the document and these the words which Deborah, widow of the man thus doubly denounced, had been given to read by the father of the writer, in the darkened room which had been and still was to her, an abode of brooding thought and unfathomable mystery. No wonder that during its reading more than one exclamation of terror and dismay escaped her. There were so many reasons for believing this record to be an absolute relation of the truth. Incoherent phrases which had fallen from those long-closed lips took on new meaning with this unveiling of an unknown past. ,Repugnances for which she could not account in those old days. she now saw xplained. He would never, even In passing, give a look at the ruin on the bluff, so attrac tive to every eye but his own As for entering its gates-she had never dared so much as to ask him to do so Then the watch! Deborah knew wel: that watch. She had often asked him by' what stroke of luck he had got so fine a timepiece. God! was her mind veering back to.her old idea as to him responsibility for the crime com mitted in Dark Hollow? Yes; she could s not help it. Denial from a monstel like this-a man who with such memo ries and such spoil, could return home to wife and child, with some gay and co'nfused story of a great stroke in specplation which had brought him I in the price of the tavern it had long been his ambition to own-what was dental from such lips worth? The 'judge was right. Oliver-whose in genuous story had restored his imago to her mind, with some of its old graces-had been the victim of circum stances and not John Scoville I her thoughts had reached this stage and her hand. in obedience to the new mood, was lightly ruffling up the pages before her, when she felt a light touch on her shoulder and turrned with a start. The judlge was at her back. How long he had stood there she did not know, nor did he say, but when upon feeling his hand upon her shoulder she turned, he was there; and while his lips failed to speak, his eyes were elo quent and their question single and Ima perative "What (10 you think of him now?" they seemed to ask, and rising to her feet. she met him with a smile, ghastly perhaps with the lividness of the shadows through which she had been gropilng, but encouraging withal and soothing beyond measure to his anx ious and hanrassed soul. -"Oliver is innocent," she declared, turning once more to lay her hand upon the sheets containing his naive confession. "The dastard who could shoot his host for plunder is caplable of a second crime holding out a similar inducement. Nothing now will ever make me connect Oliver wvith the crime at the bridge. As you said, he was simply near enough the hollow to toss into it the stick he had been whittling I am his advocate from this milnute." HeIr eyes v'ere still resting mechan. ically upon that last page lying spread out before her, and -she (lid not ob serve in its full glory the first gleam of triumphant joy which,. in all prob ability, Judge Ostrander's countenance had1 shown in years. Nor dlid lhe see, in the glad confusion of the moment, the quick shudder with wvhich she lift ed her trembling hand away from thmose papers and looked up, squarely at last, into lisa transfigured visage. "Mrs. Scoville, I love nmy boy. I what's that?" ,The front doorhell was ringing. English City igham, langland, through war contracts, ter, according to newspaper correspond clh quickly made money is being rightly furrier relates that within a couple of Iluable furs lie was sold out, and further 0 cut and extravagant trimmings of the wearing. Birmingham was an area of tg war The small manufacturers are Yes ar'e helping to spend the war gains frhceap jewelry, but part is due to lhe S#tas brooches, and so on, Pawn iada corresponding increase in 'In a ash :Deborah was out of the When the judge ot last came forth, it was at Reuthor's bidding. A gentle. man wished to seelinim In the parlor. With a dark glance, not directed against her, however, the judge bade her run away to the kitchen and as far from all these troubles as she could, then, locking his door behind him, as he always did, he strode towards the front. He found Deborah standing guard over an ilI-conditioned fellow, whose slouching figuf'e slouched still more under his' eye, but gave no other ac. knowledgment of his presence. Pass. ing him without a second look, Judge Qstrander found Mr. Black awaiting him. There was no bad blood between thesektwo, whatever their past rela tions or present suspicions, and they were soon shaking hands. with every appearance of mutual cordiality. The judge was especially courteous. "I am glad," said he, "of any occa slob which brings you again under my roof, though from -the appearance of your companion I judge the present one to be of no very agreeable charao ter." "Judge, I'm your friend;" thus Mr. Black began. "Thinking you must wish to know who started the riotous pro cedure which disgraced our town to day. I have brought the ringleader here to answer for himself-that is, if you wish to question him." Judge Ostrander wheeled about, gave the man a searching look, and failing to recognize him as any one he had ever seen before, beckoned him in. "I suppose," said he, when the loung Ing and insolent figure was fairly be fore their eyes. "that this Is not the first time you have been asked to ex plain your enmity to my long-absent son." "Naw; I've had- my talk wherever and whenever I took the notion. Oliver Ostrander hit me once. I was jest a little chap then and meanin' no harm to any one. I kept a-pesterin' of 'im and he hit me. He'd a better have hit a feller who hadn't my memory. I've never forgiven that hist, and I never will. That's why I'm hittin' him now. It's just my turn; that's all." "Your turn! Your turn! And what do you think has given you an oppor tunity to turn on him?" "I'm not !n the talkin' mood just now," the fellow drawled, frankly inso. lent, not only in his tone but in hi. He Found Deborah Standihg Guard Over an iif Conditioned Fellow. bcaring to all present. "Nor cani you make it worthI m~y while, goats. li noet take money. I'm an hlonest, hard workin' man who can earni his owvn livin', and you can't pay me to keep still, or to go away from Shelby a day sooner than I want to. I wvas goin away, hut I gave it up whlen thley told me thlat thlings wvere b, ginnin' to look black again.,t 01 Ostrander-that a woman hlad come into town whio was a-stirrin' up things genlerally, about that old murdler for wichl a feller hlad alreadly been 'lcctrocuted, and knowin' inlmethlin' myself about that murder and 01 Ostranlder. I--well, I stayad." Tile quiet thlreat, tile suggested pos albbility, tile attack whlichl wraps itself inl vague unlcertainty, are ever thle mnost effectite. As his raucous voice, dry with sinlister purlpose whlichl no man could shake, died out in an offen-. sive drawl, Mr. Black edged a step nearer tihe judge, before h~e sprang and caughlt the ounlg fellowv by tile coat collar and gave im a very vigorous shake.. "See here!" ho thlreatenled. "lie have yourself anld treat thle judge like a genltlemlan or--" Uut tile judge was nlot ready for tis. The judge had gained a new lease of life in tile last half-hlour and he felt no fear of this sullen bili-poster sales. The chleaper and more showy being sold as fast as they can be tulr factories cannot meet the home dema The Eskimos have an original sup the moon, chased his sister, the hun, ir hecr, hlowever, sheo turnled round and th and thus escaped him; and of that soot A good grade of paper can now refuse of breweries, which has hereto. ' 'Ucle Bath made $2,500,000 last governmnt. foests. for all hitely innuendoes. .He, there, fore, hindered the lawyer frofi his purpose, by a quick gesture of so mnuch dignity and resolve that even 'the lout himself was impressed and -dropped some of his sullen bravado. "I have something to say to this fel low," he announced. "Perhaps he does not know his folly. Perhaps he thinks because I was thrown aback today by those public Qharges against my son and a, string of insults for which no father could be prepared, that I am seriously disturbed over the position into which such unthinking men as himself have pushed Mr. Oli ver Ostrander. I might be if there were truth in these charges or any se rious reason for connecting my up. right and honorable son with the low crime of a highwayman. But there is not I aver it and so will this lady here whom you have doubtless recog nized for the one who has stirred this matter up. You can bring no evidence to show guilt on my son's part"-these words he directed straight at the dis comilted poster of bills-"because there is no evidence to bring." Mr. Black's eyes sparkled with admi ration. lie could not have used this method with the lad, but he rce.. gnized the insight of the man who :!ould. Bribes were a sign of weakn. is. so were force and counter-attack; but scorn-a calm Ignoring of the powei of any one to' seriously shake' Oliver Ostrander's established position--that might rouse-wrath and bring avowal; certainly it had shaken the man; he looked much less aggressive and self confident than before lowever, though Impressed, he was not yet ready to give in Shoifiling about with his feet, but not yet shrink ing from an encounter few men of lia stamp. would have cared to subject themselves to, he answered with a re mark delivered with a little more civil ity than any of his previous ones: "What you call evidence may not bt4 the same as I calls evfdence it you're satisfied at thinkin' my word's no good, that's your business I know how I should feel if I was 01 Ostran der's father and knew what I know." "Let him go," spoke uI) a wavering voice. It was Deborah's But the Judge was deaf to the warn ing. Deborah's voice had but remind ed him of Deborah's presence Its tone had escaped'him. lie was too en grossed in the purpose he had in mind to notice shades of irflection. But Mr. Black had, and quick as thought he echoed her request: "He is forgetting himself. Let him go, Judge Ostrander." But that astute magistrate, wise in all other causes but his own. was no more ready now than before to do this "In a moment," he conceded "Let me first make sure that this man un derstands me. I have said that there exists no evidence against my son This I aver; and this the lady here will aver. You have probably already recognized her. If not, allow me tc tell you that she is the lady whose efforts have brought back this case to the public mind: Mrs. Scoville. the wife of John Scoville and the one of all others who has the greatest Inter est in proving her husband's inno cence. If she says, that after the most careful inquIry andl a conscientious r'econsidleration of this case, she has found herself forced to come to the conclusion that justice has alre'ady beent satisfied in this matter-, you will believe her,- won't you ?" "I don't know," dranwled the mana. a low and cunning ex pres-sion 1ighting up his ugly countenance "She wants to marry her- datughter to your son. Any live dog is be.tter than a (lead one; I guess her opinion don't go for much." Recoiling before a cynicism that piercedl with unerring skill the one joint in his armor he kuncew to he vuli nerable, the judige took a minute in which to control his rage and then ad dressing the half-averted figure In the windowv said: Mrs. Scoville, will y-ou assure this man that you have no expectations of marrying your (laughter to Oliver Os trandler'?" With a slow movement more sugges tive of dlespair than any she had been seen) to make since the hour of her in decision had first str-uck, she shiftedl in her scat and finally faced them, with the asser'tion: "Reuther Scoville will never marry Oliver' Ostr-ander'. WVhatever my wishes or willingness in the matter, she her self is so dleter'mined. Not because she doesR not believe in his integrity, for she does; but because she will not unite herself to one wvhose prospects in life are muore to her than her own happiness." The fellowv stared, then laughed: "She's a goodun," lhe sneered. "And you believe that bosh?" Mr. Black could no longer contain himself. 'I believe you are the biggest rascal in town," he shouted. "Got out, or I won't answer for mnyself. Ladies are not to be treated in this manner." Did ho remember his own rough handling of the sex On the witness stand? 'kinds of furniture and ornaments are nied out, and the Kidderminster carpet nd. irstition. They say that one day Aniga, wrath. Just as he was about to catch row a great handful of soot in his face, he bears tho traces to this day. be commercially made from the hop ore been thrown away, rear from the ali e ofwoo frm. h IN1A1oNAL. SUNW$UI0L Unson. (3Y E. 0. SELLERS, Acting Director t I8nan t School Course, Moody Bib e (Copyright, 1910. Western Newspaper Union.) LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 6 BOLDNESS OF PETER AND JOHN. LESSON TEXT-Acts 4:1-81. GOLDE1N TEXT-Watch ye. stand fast in the faith, quit ye like men, be strong. I Cor. 36:13. . The first seven chapters of the book of Acts have been designated as the Jerusalem period. Chaper 1 deals with the ascension of our Lord; chap ter 2, the baptism of the Holy Spirit; chapters 3-', the early conflicts in Jerusalem. In our lesson of last Sun day we had the story of Peter and John dealing with the lame man while on their way to thre temple. Follow ing this experience they were im prisoned, the first imprisonmignt men tioned for any or chose who accepted the Gospel. As the disciples were dealing with the multitude the rulers of the temple came upon them and wore mucn put out (v. 2) that the dis ciples should preach tne resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The signiil cance of this 13 bettet understood when we remember that the Jewish Sanhedrin was the groat court of Jew ish iaw composed o1 seventy-one lead ing men or the nation. Calaphas, the noble high priest by* Roman appoint ment, and Antpas, the reat high priest according to Jewish law, were both there. This body was largely made up of the Sadducees, the sect which did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. 1. 'he imprIsonment, . 1-4. Pe. ter and John ieing brought before this tribunal were tulfliling literally the prediction of Jesus (Matt. 10'17). The attempt on the part of the rulers to prevent the preaching of the Gospel by this method really augmented its being heard throughout the nation. Peter nad seen this body of men on the night when our Lord was con demned. II. The Trial, vv. 5-22. (1) Peter's words vv. 6-12. Jewish wonder-work ers were accustomed to perform mar. vels by the use ot some name, so the council very naturally asked Peter and John "In what name" they had healed this man. The real object of their question was their attempt to en trap the disciples and find a basis of accusation and condemnation. But at that moment the Holy Spirit came again upon Peter and filled him (Matt. 10.19, 20; also Luke 12:11, 12; Acts 13-8, 9). The coming of the Holy Spirit is for every emergency of the Chri''..an Peter had been-filled with that Spirit at Pentecost and was again filled a little later on (chapter 2:31). Thus we see that the coming of the Spir-li is not once for all, though Pen tecost was once for all, but that the dlling is repeated as each now emer genc) may arise, (a) Peter acknowvl edged thre author-ity of those whno were dealimg with him (v. 8), but ( b) ihe gave Jesus credit (v. 10). it was Je sus who had died, .he was also riscen, and the risenr Chrmist had elected this miracle. (c.) TJurnilng upon his ac accusers Peter charged them with tile denthi or .Jesus. I-e (v. 11) is tihe rounanztionr of their miracle anid their iti Peter- claimead that in Jesus alone (v 12) couldi salvation be found, anid implied (see last clause of tis verre) that his accusers wore lost men. Peter a deportmrent fin all o1 tnis ls wonderfully skillfui, gentle 0and courteous, yet bold, fearless, fr-ank and outsp)oken. We need to remiem ber tnIs when we recall how blunrder' ingly Peter had conducted ihis comnver sation before his eniduemenit by the H-oly Spirit Trhere was n'0 comrpro mising of the truth and no glossing over their guilt Ill The Result Upon the DiscIples, vv. 19-22. T[he book of Acts is Plain ly the record of tire deft utterances. of spiritual men. Peter had closed hris appeal (v. 12) wIth tihe statement that the only way we could be saved must be through this means. Thie council were In a dilemma; they waunzted to punish Peter anrd John, but could not, for- the people0 were glori fying God for what had been done. P'eter and John declared thus fear. lessly that tire teachings of the schrools was not in accordance with that, for had dot J)esus rIsen, and had 'not this miracle been performed? The Holy Ghost's boldness mn these untu tored mcen has always been a perplex ity to the scholastics of thne world. Their boldness was due to a sense of God's nearness anid carried with it a like sense of their responsibility to him (see vv. 19, 20), The only solution. on the part of the people and of tihe pri-ests, was' they Look knowledge that "these mon have been with Jesus." This is the solu tion of many mysteries of today. Companilonshrip with Jesus makeS ordinary men~ extraordinary. TIhe Sanhedrin asked, "What shall we (10 with these men?"' A better question would have been, "What shall we do to be saved?' IV. The Early Church, vv. 23-27. Six points about that church: (t) It was a praying church (vv. 2-i-30); (2) Ii was a Spirit-filled church (v. 31); (3) It was a united churchn (v. 32); (1) it was a witnessing church (v. 33); (b) It was a ministering church (vy,. 34, 35); (6) It was a multiplying 'b-urch, (rY. 36 and 37) for ther-c BILIOUS,'HAI SIC "AS aently cleanse your In sluggish b wwlswhile'. -you sleep. Get a 10-cent box. Sick headache, biliousiess, aes, coated-tongue, foul taqte and feat breath-always trace them to "o I4 liver; ,delayed, fermentinAg too4i 46,, bowels or sour, gassy stoneh. Poisonous matter clogged in the -Su1 S; testines, instead of being' cast *o. of the system is re-absorbed into* Xh blood. When this poison reachesth delicate brain- tissue it causes C - gestion and that dull, throbbing, #1 ening headache. Cascarets immediately cleanse thi stomach, remove the sour, undigated food and foul gas.e, take the excess bile from the liver and carry out alt the constipated waste matter and poisons in the bowels. A Cascaret to-night will sure'y straighten you out by morning. They work while you sleep-a 1Q-cent box from your druggist means your hea4 clear, stomach sweet and your liver and bowels regular for months4 Adv. Left His Eye on Guard. An Irish soldier' had lost his left eye in action, but was allowed to remuain in - the service on consenting to have a glass eye in its place. Being a typical "absent-minded beggar," he appeged i on parade one day minus the left "win dow." Said the adjutant: "Nolan, you are 'lproperly dressed. Why is your arti lal eye no# in its proper place?" Like a flash came the reply: "Sure, sir, I left it in my box to keep an eye dn my kit while I am on parade." Kidney Trouble Causes Sleep. lessness, Dizzy Spells I have great confidence in your medi cine, called Swatup-Root as I have test ed it thoroughly. I ha4 Kidney trouble for several years and found no relief, un til I took Dr. Kilmer's Swamp-Root. The doctor said my disease was Kidney trouble of the worst kind. I had pains in my back, dizzy spells and fever. Had a languid feeling and could not sleep on account of having to urinate so oftei. The doctors told me that I could not get well, but I am well now and feel better than I ever did. Can sleep well and am not bothered any more with my kidneys, Have never taken a. dose of medieine since the last bot.le of Dr. Kilmer's Swam -Root. My age is 55 years. Have' resided in Darlington 20 years. Yours very truly. W.A. 'LEE 400 W. Broad St. Darlington, S.'0. Personally appeared before me this 8th day of June, 1914, W. A. Lee, who suhrcri bed to the above statement and made oath that the same is true in sub stance and in fact. .P. T. WARR. Magistrate, Darlington County. Prove What Swamp-Root Will Do For You Send ten cents to Dr. Kilmer & Co., Binghamton. N. Y., for a sample' size,-bot tie. It will convince anyone. You will also receive a booklet of valuable infor mation telling about the kidneys and blad der. When writing, be sure and mention this paper. Regular fifty.cent and one dollar size bottles for sale at all drug Matched the Excuse. clean broke." "WVhy (lon't you pawn that ring you ar-e wearing?" "Couldn't do that; it's a souvenir of a deceaseod brother." "Well, my 'money is a souvenir of a dec''ased father-." FALLNG HAIR MEANS DANDRUFF IS ACTIVEq Save Your Hairl Get a 25 Cent Bottle of Danderine Right Now-Also Stops itching Scalp. Thin, brittle, coloriess and scraggy hair Is mute evidence of a neglected scalp; of dandruff-that .awful scurf. There is nothing so destructive to the hair as dandruff, It robs the hair ' of its luster, -its strength and its very life; eventually producing a feverish. ness and 'itching of the scalp, which if not remedied causes the hair roots to shrink, loosen and die-then the hair falls out fast. A little Danderine tonight-now-any time-will 'surely save your hair. Get a 25 cent bottle of Knowlton's Danderine from any store, and after-'' the first application your hair will take on that life, luster and luxuriance) which is so beautiful. It will become wavy and luffy and have the appean' ance of abundance; an incomparable gloss and softness, but what will please you most will be after just a few weeks' use, when you will actual ly see a lot of fine, downy hair--new hair-growing all over the scalp. Ady. Economics. Bridget-How manny in the faily? Mistress-Two; how many in yours? For thrush, cleanse and day the foot and make thorough applications of Hanford's Balearn of Myrrh. Adv. Dlvory man favors honest govern ment as long as it doesn't interfere with his interests, Dr. Pierce's lPleas ut Pellets are the origmnal little liver. i put up 40 years igo. They regulate l~wand bowels.--Adv.. Our mistaked rnay aiddt'to the wis- ~ 1oin' of, QhetsO